House Bill 75, introduced by Representative Jay Ramras (R-Fairbanks),
becomes law on Tuesday, Oct. 21. This new law applies a proactive
approach to educating minors about alcohol, preventing underage
drinking and assisting the service industry in protecting their
establishments and identifying underage customers.

Here's how it works: If you are under 21 years of age, and you
are issued a minor's license on October 21st or in the future,
your driver's licenses will now expire 90 days after your 21st
birthday. If you are 19 years of age or older and getting an
instruction permit, your instruction permit will expire no later
than 90 days after your 21st birthday. Your new license will
be an "OVER 21" horizontal type card. To have a driver's
license or instruction permit issued under this new law, you
MUST pass an Alcohol Awareness Test before you can renew your
license or obtain a new license. The alcohol awareness test is
based on information found in the State of Alaska Driver Manual.
The manual is available on line at www.alaska.gov/dmv/
or at your local DMV office.

"This law ensures that individuals who have recently turned
twenty-one will have access to information about alcohol and
the DUI laws in this State," said Ramras. "Young adults
need a refresher on the dangers of impaired driving and the dire
consequences that can result. Education is and continues to be
an essential tool in preventing drunk driving. This test will
provide an opportunity to educate young adults on the physical
impairments and the potential financial impacts incurred with
a DUI arrest."

Additionally, this law allows DMV to create a license for those
individuals twenty-one years of age and older, which is visibly
different than licenses issued to minors. This will provide a
clear and noticeable method to alcohol servers to differentiate
between minors and adults.

According to the news release, this law serves to link the privilege
of driving to responsible consumption of alcohol and the dangers
related to making the decision to get behind the wheel of a car
after drinking.